GAME ANIM is the website of Jonathan Cooper, award-winning Scottish American video game developer and author of the best-selling book GAME ANIM: Video Game Animation Explained.

He currently works at Apple on the Apple Vision Pro across Edinburgh, London and Los Angeles, and has led teams on large projects with a focus on memorable characters and cutting-edge interactive animation.


Projects

Encounter Dinosaurs
  • Animation
  • Apple
  • 2024
For All Mankind: Time Capsule
  • Animation
  • Apple
  • 2021
The Last of Us: Part II
  • Story Animator
  • Naughty Dog / Sony
  • 2020
Uncharted: The Lost Legacy
  • Story Animator
  • Naughty Dog / Sony
  • 2017
Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End
  • Story Animator
  • Naughty Dog / Sony
  • 2016
Assassin’s Creed III
  • Animation Director
  • Ubisoft Montreal / Ubisoft
  • 2012
Mass Effect 2
  • Lead Animator (Montreal Team)
  • BioWare / Electronic Arts
  • 2010
Deus Ex: Human Revolution
  • Lead Animator (Pre-production)
  • Eidos Montreal / Square Enix
  • 2011
Mass Effect
  • Principal Lead Animator
  • BioWare / Microsoft
  • 2007
Jade Empire
  • Cinematic Animator
  • BioWare / Microsoft
  • 2005
NARC
  • Lead Animator
  • VIS / Midway Games
  • 2005
Tom & Jerry in War of the Whiskers
  • Animator
  • VIS / NewKidCo
  • 2002

Awards

PGA – Innovation Award
  • Producers Guild of America
  • For All Mankind: Time Capsule
  • 2022
  • Link
EMMY – Interactive Programming
  • Television Academy Awards
  • For All Mankind: Time Capsule
  • 2021
  • Link
DICE – Outstanding Achievement in Animation
  • Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences
  • The Last of Us: Part II
  • 2021
  • Link
BAFTA – Best Animation
  • British Academy of Film and Television Arts
  • The Last of Us: Part II
  • 2020
  • Link
BAFTA – Best Game
  • British Academy of Film and Television Arts
  • Uncharted 4
  • 2017
  • Link
DICE – Outstanding Achievement in Animation
  • Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences
  • Uncharted 4
  • 2017
  • Link
SXSW – Excellence in Animation
  • South by Southwest
  • Uncharted 4
  • 2017
  • Link
ANNIE – Character Animation in a Video Game
  • International Animated Film Association (ASIFA-Hollywood)
  • Uncharted 4
  • 2016
  • Link
DICE – Outstanding Achievement in Animation
  • Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences
  • Assassin’s Creed III
  • 2013
  • Link
BAFTA – Best Game
  • British Academy of Film and Television Arts
  • Mass Effect 2
  • 2011
  • Link

Print Press

EDGE
  • 8-Page Feature: Motion Plus
  • 2019
  • Link
Imagine FX
  • Interview: Perfect Portfolios
  • 2014
  • Link
Custom PC
  • Interview: The Road To Photorealism
  • 2013
  • Link
3D Artist
  • Tutorial: Master Blend Cycles in Motionbuilder
  • 2013
  • Link
Game Developer
  • Recruitment Ad: Heroes Wanted
  • 2013
  • Link
3D Artist
  • Interview: Moving Pixels
  • 2012
  • Link
3D Artist
  • Interview: Game Art Revolution
  • 2012
  • Link
EDGE
  • Interview: Assassin’s Creed III Hype
  • 2012
  • Link

Online Press

Creative Bloq
  • 15 Pro Tips For Crafting The Perfect Showreel
  • Link
  • 2018
Game Informer
  • How Uncharted 4’s Most Memorable Sequences Came Together
  • 2016
  • Link
Kotaku
  • Behind The Scenes Of Uncharted 4’s Big E3 Demo
  • Link
  • 2016
Kotaku
  • How To Create A Game Character That Doesn’t Suck
  • 2014
  • Link
Polygon
  • Animating Women Should Take Days
  • 2014
  • Link
Game Informer
  • AC3 Animation Director Moves Over To Naughty Dog
  • 2014
  • Link
Game Spot
  • Naughty Dog Hires Assassin’s Creed 3 Animation Director
  • 2014
  • Link
Kotaku
  • A Man Who Makes Video Games Move
  • 2013
  • Link


Presentations

Interactive Cinematic Sequences in Uncharted 4
  • Animation Exchange
  • San Francisco, USA
  • 2017
  • Link
Women Are Not Too Hard to Animate
  • Game Developers Conference
  • San Francisco, USA
  • 2015
  • Link
Animating The 3rd Assassin
  • Game Developers Conference
  • San Francisco, USA
  • 2013
  • Link
Assassin’s Creed III Developer Session
  • EGX (Eurogamer Expo)
  • London, UK
  • 2012
  • Link
Cinematics Sans Cutscenes
  • Montreal International Games Summit
  • Montreal, Canada
  • 2011
  • Link
Breathing Life into Mass Effect’s Digital Actors
  • IGDA Montreal
  • Montreal, Canada
  • 2006
  • Link